Faculty Members

Maggie started dancing at the age of 5, and has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, and Lyrical, and began teaching dance in 1979

Sue took her first dance class when she was 4 and has not stopped dancing since

After choosing dance over intensive gymnastics at the age of 9 she began training in various styles, including classical ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary dance

Kathy began her dance career at a very young age under the instruction of her mother (Betty Jean Johnson), a former tap teacher/performer, and her uncle (Dick Nordt)

DuKane started training at an early age of 3. Continuing her love for dance she attended the University of Idaho in 2004 where she was a finalist at the 2008 American College Dance Festival for both performance and choreography.

Shannon Franson started dancing at age 4 with Mari Ann Lawler, and continued with Maggie Mitchell-Wagner, and Kathy Shriver all the way thru high school studying Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and eventually competing with Gotta Dance in their inaugural year!
After high school, Shannon continued to take dance classes and attend dance conventions on the side while attending College of Saint Catherine. She taught Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, and Jazz in Saint Paul, Minnesota while earning her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a Bio-Chemistry concentration. She started her career as a Scientist for a Bio-Tech company and continued to teach dance, eventually joining Jodi Seiger who founded Rhythm and Shoes Dance Studio.

The founder and director of the elite Seattle Hip Hop Dance Company “In-Effect”, Kari-Lee has choreographed for artists as well as produced and directed numerous shows such as Seattle’s own hip hop production “Shameless”

Deanna began dancing at the age of 3 and quickly learned that she had a passion for dance and has been dancing ever since

Lauryn is from San Francisco, CA. and started dancing in elementary with San Francisco Arts Foundation and Centerstage learning Modern dance and musical theater. She performed in productions like “The Event” with celebrities Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin for several years. Living in the urban area of San Francisco, Lauryn learned Hip-Hop from the “streets.” After her move to Kirkland, WA. during high school, she created, co-captained and choreographed Groove dance team. During college, Lauryn trained in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Ballet at Westlake Dance Center under Kari-lee Florentine, Kim Gockel, Kirsten Cooper, and Sheri Lewis.

Notable dance companies and performances are: In Effect under Kari-Lee Florentine, Koncrete under Ron Gatsby, Passion under Julianna Diaz and K-L Movement under Kari-Lee Florentine; Sign Of the Times, Shameless, Bumbershoot, EnLair, Simply Dance, Evolvere and various commercials.

Tiffany Sparks-Keeney represented Dance Masters of America’s Chapter 39 as Miss Dance of the Pacific Northwest in 1995 where she placed in the top 10 nationally and received the first place tap award and the Directors’ Award. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Dance from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois where her tap influences included Billy Siegenfeld, Lane Alexander and Dianne Walker. Upon graduation she taught dance and drama to deaf and hard of hearing students at the International Center on Deafness and the Arts in Northbrook, Illinois. From there she decided to head to somewhere warmer, and for several years she danced in many different parades and shows throughout the four parks of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. She continued her performing career onboard several Royal Caribbean Cruise ships where she enjoyed working with people from around the world and traveling to many different places. She received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Washington and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University. She is passionate about arts inclusion and equity and works throughout Seattle and across the United States helping organizations expand their vision of accessibility to encompass the full range of human diversity through her consulting business, Inclusive Arts OT. She is thrilled to be back as a faculty member at one of her original tap dance homes, Gotta Dance!

Deepti Gupta has started at Gotta Dance in 2023.  She has a focus on both Bollywood and traditional Indian dance styles.

Emily began her dance education at 4 in Albany, New York, before moving with her family to Washington state. Here she trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet and International Ballet Theater, then began private coaching with Deborah Hadley. She moved to Pennsylvania at 15 to join Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, followed by Atlanta Ballet. After an injury, she returned to Washington state where she danced with The Stone Dance Collective, and taught alongside Deborah Hadley. She has since taught at several Seattle area schools, including Cascade Dance Academy,  Turning Pointe Dance Centre, and Dance Conservatory Seattle. She currently performs with Dance Theater Seattle. 

As a teacher, Emily focuses on technique and precision, and building individual artistry. She believes ballet is the math of dance, and that lessons learned in the studio are applicable across many aspects of life. She works to incorporate an attitude of inclusion and personal expression in her classes, goals that squarely intersect with the direction she hopes the dance world, and next generation of dancers are headed. 

Jacob is a third generation dance instructor in a family of great dancers. His 37 years of experience and devotion came through the tapestry of various studios, classes, conventions, and performances, encapsulating the very essence of the dance studio life. From his earliest steps, Jacob was enveloped in the performing arts world of tap, ballet, and jazz, under the tutelage of his family members who owned and operated dance studios – an environment where dance wasn’t just a passion, but a way of life.

Danielle began dancing when she was just three years old. For fifteen years she studied dance under the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) certified instructors.

Taking annual examinations in ballet, modern, and tap. Danielle received honors and highly commended in all examinations Primary – Advance II. Danielle also studied jazz, lyrical, and contemporary styles outside the RAD and ISTD curriculum. While at British Dancing Academy; Danielle auditioned, and was selected for soloist lead roles in the ballets: The Little Princess, Peter Pan, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Little Mermaid. While in high school, Danielle also had the opportunity to audition and be a part of a series of dance exercise videos for teens.

After graduating high school, Danielle continued her dance education at the University of Washington where she received her BA in Dance (Creative Studies), spring of 2015. While studying in the UW dance program, she also had the opportunity to take master classes taught by Ann Green Gilbert. Danielle also became a member of the Husky Dance Team while attending the university, performing jazz and hip-hop routines at sporting games and various events around the campus. Danielle also participated in the dance concerts and performances put on by the faculty dance program company at the University.

Since graduating, Danielle has taught at various studios in the Seattle area; teaching many styles, all ages, all levels, and students with special needs. Danielle has also become certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Sugar Foot Therapy Strength Training and Injury Prevention, Choreography and Composition with Teddy Forance, Intro to Preschool Dance with Julie Kay Stallcup & Melissa Sandvig, Creative Movement, and Matwork Pilates. As well as also completely the More Than Just Great Dancing (MTJGD) teacher training. Additionally, while choreographing for competitions, Danielle has been recognized and awarded multiple choreography awards.

Danielle absolutely loves teaching dance.  She strives to share her love and passion for dance with every student, and loves to see it grow within themselves too. She likes to teach from an anatomical point of view so that her students understand the mechanics of how their body moves, and can do so safely.  Danielle believes dance is for everyone, and that every dancer deserves to walk away from class feeling accomplished. Danielle’s goal in every class, is progression and enjoyment. To see each student attain something new each class, and to be able to walk away from class feeling great.

Erin Franson started dancing at Gotta Dance in 2010, when she was 3 years old. She started with Tap and Ballet before later joining the competition team. She competed for 7 years in various styles including Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theater, Contemporary and Hiphop. She now focuses more on teaching, performing, and learning dance covers. Erin is a part of the Coffee Dance performance team and K3rma dance crew. The groups perform around the Seattle area and film dance covers. 

Adel’s passion for the world of movement began at just three years old with gymnastics, igniting a lifelong love for physical expression. By the age of four, she dove into the vibrant realms of hip hop and jazz dance, and a year later expanded her repertoire to include lyrical, contemporary, and ballet.  Over the next eleven years, she embraced the thrill of competition, seizing every opportunity to perform and hone her artistry.

Her dedication led her to The Garden Dance Company, where she has spent the last three years under the guidance of Avery Gardner, exploring the depths of performance and artistry. Since 2021, Adel has shared her love for dance as an instructor, teaching styles including hip hop, contemporary, jazz, and free movement.

Through her creative lens and dancer-first philosophy, she inspires her students to embrace their individuality and find their voice in movement, reinforcing her belief that dance and choreography are her lifelong passions.